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Officially Spring

J

James Howell

Well-known Member
As many of you already know, Nancy and I live and work in the Dallas area.

We "stay" about 13 miles due South on I45.

One of the "beauties" of our place in Hutchins is the bluebonnets.

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa5/jameslloydhowell/Bluebonnets/?action=view&current=IMG_1079.jpg" target="_blank">
IMG_1079.jpg" width="520" height="420" border="0" alt="Photobucket
</a>

Thought we would share these with y'all North of the Red River and points beyond.

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa5/jameslloydhowell/Bluebonnets/?action=view&current=IMG_1077.jpg" target="_blank">
IMG_1077.jpg" width="520" height="420" border="0" alt="Photobucket
</a>

We fertilize them each year by shoveling horse manure over our fence.

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa5/jameslloydhowell/Bluebonnets/?action=view&current=IMG_1073.jpg" target="_blank">
IMG_1073.jpg" width="520" height="420" border="0" alt="Photobucket
</a>

Sometimes Nancy's "crazy" neighbor, that lives across the street, parks his truck where these grow.

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa5/jameslloydhowell/Bluebonnets/?action=view&current=IMG_1070.jpg" target="_blank">
IMG_1070.jpg" width="520" height="420" border="0" alt="Photobucket
</a>

Unfortunately the horse manure I shovel over the fence "drifts" into the truck's cab and gets all over his dash, seat, and floor and does not get applied to the bluebonnets.
 
That's amazing looking. However, I hope the Texas highway department doesn't own flail mowers.
 
The West side of our property is the edge of the city limits.

We put up T posts and wire every Spring for several years to keep the bluebonnets from being mowed by the city.

We are certain that we are the only folks in town with truly "wild" flowers growing next to our property.

We did not plant these bluebonnets; a few came up many years ago and we have "nursed" them to this point.

I am sure that if there were no state laws protecting the bluebonnets, Nancy's "crazy" neighbor would still continue to park his truck in the middle of them.
 
Well, they're a fine addition to an otherwise green colored piece of real estate for sure!!
 
James, I read each and every post I see that you author, for no other reason than that you consistently post some of the most beautiful gorgeous pictures I"ve ever seen here.
Do you have a website where you keep the collection?
 
Good for the bees too, from about 1 week or so to sometime in June, there's something blooming around here, lot of wild apple trees, small orchard's worth, even the small cherry size ones, + I've got some apple, pear, and apricot trees near the house, then all the other native trees, plants and shrubs, some of which are in the nearby landscape by the house, but also found in a large pasture left to grow wild since the late 70's early 80's, I've been taking some shots during spring the last few years, those apple trees make the whole valley smell great, winds bring it into the house, absolutely the best time of year, especially when the weather cooperates.
 
Pretty! From the close-ups, I've gotta say your bluebonnets bear quite a resemblance to our lupine up here in Maine. Leaf and stalk is pretty much the same. Flower spikes on lupine are similar but maybe consistently a little taller, and wild lupine, while often blue, will occasionally throw out pink or white flower spikes.
 
I came from Northern Cal and we always called them Lupine too. Very pretty in the spring I also remember the huge valleys in the spring and summer filled with poppies. No wonder its called the Golden State. (an you guys thought it was because of all the gold in them thar hills.)
Walt
 
Now that you've "baited" us with the "crazy" neighbor.............what's the "rest" of the story? Why does he "belong" to Nancy?
 
Sorry but I have to plead the 5th Amendment on this one.

Parents always taught me that "if you can't say something good about someone, then don't say anything at all."

If you ask Nancy, then be prepared to take a couple of hours to read her reply.

[b:654c4848f0]<big>"And that's all I have to say about that."</big>[/b:654c4848f0] Forrest Gump
 
The fence is to keep Nancy's horses in our pasture.

Dug every one of those post holes with a hand auger back in the early 90's.

Did not own 1 tractor back then; can you believe it!

Maybe Nancy will start posting a picture of two of her horses; they are her babies.
 
Down here the Dogwood trees are in full bloom.

I'm hoping to take some photos this weekend of several that are located at our farm.

We also have a few pear trees at both the Hunt place and the Ragan place starting to bloom.

There were planted at least 100 years ago at these old home sites.

Yes the bees have plenty to keep them busy.
 
Absolutely the best time of year, you have to appreciate just being able to enjoy it, the apricot trees will blossom within the next 2 weeks, then sometime in early May, all the apple trees start, I've got one side of that old pasture cleared, just grass and the various trees that came up, it would look like a park if the whole thing was done like that, I'll try an remember to post a few shots.
 
Our Lupine seems to have much larger leaves than that pictured- and doesn't grow solid like that, but usually in individual plants. Considered a weed around here, I spot spray it along with tansy ragwort.
 
Thank you for the compliment on our photos.

Nancy and I really enjoy sharing our photos with folks on this site and are glad that several of you enjoy them.

I will give my dear mother almost all of the credit for my love of flowers and trees.

She liked to plant wild, native flowers and transplant native trees at our farm home.

There are flowers growing in some of the strangest places where she planted them.

One of our larger oak trees stands at the top of a long hill.

When I was 11 or 12 part of my "work" around the farm was mowing the pastures.

She would always say to me <big>"Don't mow down the small oak tree on top of the hill."</big>

So I always mowed around the small oak on top of the hill and it still stands today.

My granddaddy Howell transplanted Cypress trees during the 30's from Caddo Lake which borders both Texas and Louisiana.

We now have the largest Cypress trees in this part of the country.

My dad would not let me cut Bois de Arc ( bo dark ) trees.

He would always say <big>"One day that little tree will make a good fence post."</big>

Well I guess we have some of the largest Bois de Arc trees in the country.

Hardest wood in the world; tougher than the average chain saw and can't you "drive" fence staples made in China into them.

All the "special" trees and "special" flowers that we have on our farm keep my memories of my mother, father, and granddaddy alive.
 
He's a con artist, liar and mooch. He's the only human being I've ever cussed in my life. The story is too long to tell here.

When I talk about him to James, I say "your neighbor" and when James refers to him when talking to me he says "your neighbor".

Neither of us will refer to him as "my neighbor".
 
That's our barn in the picture. James and I built it about 17 yrs. ago. It may not be pretty, but it's still standing after many, many thunderstorms and 60+ mph winds.
 
I think we'll put a wire up again this year. Last year, they had not quite gone to seed when the city mowed them down. We never mow that area until they have completely gone to seed. That's why we have so many now.
 
Sorry, I forgot to answer your question.

We keep our photos at Photobucket.com.

On occasion I will post a slide show with several photos to illustrate a "process".

We keep our videos at You Tube.com.

Our videos will be "working" one or more of our antique JD tractors.

On a rare occasion, I will post a photo from the web in reply to an Off Topic post.

At this time Nancy is not interested in building a personal web site.
 
Very nice pics guys.
As others said I enjoy all them you post.

The earliest flower that has shown around here I believe are called croakisis ? { spelling } I haven't seen them for awhile but they do bloom in as early as Mar. Kinda like a short stemmed tulip, and were about the same color as those you show .
 
Glad that you enjoy our photos and we are happy to share them.

Hopefully they will help some of our forum friends suffering from "cabin fever".
 
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